When it comes to the future of the historic building at 231-237 Pennsylvania Ave. West, there is not much of a debate online. According to our weekly poll at timesobserver.com, the sentiment is overwhelming.

Our question, “Do you think the building at 231-237 Pennsylvania Ave. West should be demolished?” found that 82% of the respondents said “yes” while only 18% believe otherwise. That is very different from public comment at recent meetings.

Last month, Sandra Blum and Ron Peterson, both of the Warren County Heritage Alliance, pitched a plan to the Redevelopment Authority to maintain the structure with a new vision. “This property, constructed in the early 1900’s is the last remaining one-story Beaux Arts commercial building in Warren. A one-story Beaux Arts building had to express elegance using the following: façade composition, ornament, proportion, and storefront rhythm instead of height, which makes it unusual,” Blum said.

She noted Beaux-Arts architecture became highly influential internationally. In the United States, it shaped iconic structures such as the New York Public Library and Union Station in Washington, D.C., reflecting the style’s emphasis on grandeur, symmetry and decorative richness.

Plans for the property are on hold until the meeting later this month.

Our poll question for this week: Do you think enough is being done about the Tidioute water crisis?